day 1356: Bonus Money

"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

 

End of Q1 just happened.  Annual bonuses for the prior year have been paid, or are readying to be paid.  Bonus time can be an awkward time because we distill down a year’s worth of work and results into one single payout formula or reason. Bonus payments can cause all kinds of consternation and mixed messages.  Not to mention that we need to be sure that bonuses are not just turning into deferred compensation for doing only what was expected in the job.  Bonus means something above and beyond.  Are we using our bonus program for such, or are we just allowing our people to become obsessed on an amount of money that doesn’t really drive greater than expected results and performance?

When everyone around us is obsessed on bonus time, it’s hard for us to not also become that way. But, we have to keep ourselves in check because we know that at its root, the love of money is not good.  We have to be careful to not allow ourselves to fall into this money trap.  There is nothing wrong with expecting and working towards earning what we think is commensurate with our efforts and performance, but there is a line and we need to be sure that we stay on this side of that line.

Reference: 1 Timothy 6:10 (New Living Translation)

day 900: Wealth Creation

"Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? Does my happiness depend on my wealth and all that I own?"

Now having been around the track a few times I can watch those who have worked for me succeed and yes, career wise, even pass by me on their own way to the top of their organizations and career.  I love nothing more than to see it happen.  With it also I can see some who are accumulating great amounts of wealth and struggling on what to do with it.  I have long said that as humans we are not built for fame or fortune that comes to us too fast or prematurely.  For some, who happen to be in the right company at the right time, an enormous amount of wealth creation can occur and then others watch to see if they are ready and able to handle what is happening.  I become fearful for these people and I do my best to encourage them to not lose perspective and don't get caught in the traps that come from too much trappings too fast. We don't do a great job with coaching and mentoring people during these times. We need look no further than to the world of professional sports and celebrities to see how wealth creation can destroy someone.  As we lead our companies and we bring up the next generation we would do well to spend the extra time in teaching someone how to manage their finances and how to keep this in a perspective that doesn't lose the long view.


As believers we know how hard it is for a rich man to find his way to heaven.  It is not because God does not love the rich, it is because the rich are more likely to love their wealth than God. The more we are financially secure the more self-dependent we become and that is the anti-thesis of how we are to live.  We are to give ourselves to God and be dependent on Him, not on ourselves or our wealth.  Money can be a great thing when we know how to manage it, how to keep it in tow, and how to not let it become the lord of our lives. While today you may not be concerned with having too much money, the question still remains as to how much the creation of wealth is driving decisions, thoughts, life patterns and our actions?  Let's today ask the question that Job poses for us and be sure that we are being honest with ourselves to know the true answer.

Reference: Job 31:24 (New Living Testament)